Barra set for broadband

Northbay on Barra in the Western Isles is set to receive wireless broadband as part of the Connected Communities (ConCom) scheme.

Upon the request of residents, Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) examined the options open to the island, which included upgrading the local telephone exchange to support ADSL or extend the ConCom wireless scheme.

HIE concluded that while both options would deliver similar levels of service, the ConCom wireless scheme could be enacted sooner, with completion scheduled for the end of the summer.

"This decision is supported by the local authority and the Scottish Government as the best way to deliver broadband to Northbay as soon as possible," said HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming in a statement.

Meanwhile, Barra councillor Donald Manford said that the island's remote location made adequate broadband provision a high priority for residents and businesses.

Elsewhere, the Daily Post cites statistics from BT which suggest that more than half of all residents living in north Wales now have access to high-speed broadband services.

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